Last weekend we visited the new jetty at Olivers Hill in Frankston on the Mornington Peninsula. As the sun dropped down towards the horizon the sky exploded in a way that we really didn’t expect. It seems that predicting a colourful sunset in Melbourne is a bit like predicting the outcome of a coin toss. 🙂 These are short exposure shots using my phone camera as I left the “big boy”at home.

In the image above, the glowing red “eyes” and silhouette of a small drone can be seen hovering near the top edge towards the left of frame. The constant buzzing noise from these little buggers can ruin an otherwise tranquil atmosphere, …but hopefully the owner captured some great scenes from up there. 🙂

Following are some images from an excursion to the wild coastline at Bushrangers Bay on the Mornington Peninsula.
I highly recommend the 3km hike from the carpark at Cape Schanck lighthouse to Bushrangers Bay. The scenic track follows the coastline along clifftops and through bush.
The best time to visit Bushrangers Bay is at low tide which allows access to the rugged rock formations.

2.5 secs f/8 using an ND400 filter. The image above is available to purchase as a print at Redbubble.

4 secs f/8 using an ND400 filter. The image above is available to buy as a print at Redbubble.

Pictured above, my friend Alan lining up his next shot at Bushrangers Bay.
Pulpit Rock at Cape Schanck can be see on the horizon.

This was certainly one of the more memorable excursions that my photo group has undertaken, …and in a bad way.
The rock selves at the end of Cape Schanck are hazardous at the best of times. On this particular visit two of our group members were caught off guard and knocked into water by an unexpectedly large wave.

Thankfully both guys are OK and came away from the experience with minor injuries. It could have been a lot worse.

Pictured below, the view from the rock platform at Pulpit Rock, Cape Schanck, looking across to Bushrangers Bay as the sun rises.

Below are some images from this weekend’s excursion to Fowlers beach in Blairgowrie.
If you’d like to visit Fowlers beach the closest carpark is at the end of St Johns Wood Rd in Blairgowrie. Follow the track from the carpark area to the beach then turn right and follow the path for about two hundred metres. Where the wire fence ends walk down towards the edge of the cliff and you’ll see a “goat track” down the steep embankment to the beach. I would describe this as a medium difficulty access point, …not everyone will be comfortable with negotiating the sandy steep descent down to the beach.

A 155 second exposure of the SS Speke shipwreck at Kitty Miller Bay on Phillip Island. The image was taken during daylight using ND400 and ND8 filters stacked together to give about 12 stops of darkness.

Below is a series of long exposure images taken during a photography group excursion to the Bay of Islands at Sorrento. Conditions were ideal for those of us wanting to take long exposures.
It was great to see a few of the participants willing to get their feet wet to catch some good shots. 🙂

Below – 30 secs f/9

Below – 8secs f/9

Below – 15 secs f/9

Below – 13 secs f/7.1

Pictured below, some of the excursion group members setting up in anticipation of a colourful sunrise that never really eventuated.

Following are a couple of long exposure images of the SS Speke shipwreck at Kitty Miller Bay on Phillip Island.
The first image was captured using an ND400 and two ND8 filters stacked together to achieve an exposure time of 195 seconds on a bright afternoon. Such a long exposure allows blurring of both the ocean waves and the moving clouds.

The image below is a 13 second exposure. This shorter exposure allows misting of the waves but leaves the moving clouds only slightly blurred.

Pictured below, a 10 second exposure of surf washing over the dark rocks at Kitty Miller Bay.

Below, a 2.5 second exposure of waves crashing onto the beach at Kitty Miller Bay.

Finally, a 0.8 second exposure of a large wave slamming into a rock on Kitty Miller beach.

If you’re new to long exposure photography using dark ND filters then you might like to check out this page for some tips to get you started.

Following are images from Shack Bay and Eagles Nest taken during an excursion with members from my Facebook group ND400 Long Exposure Photography.
Shack Bay and Eagles Nest are part of the Bunurong Marine Park located between Cape Paterson and Inverloch. Access to the beach is via stairs from the cliff tops.

Pictured below – A long exposure image from Shack Bay with the Eagles Nest rock formation in the background.

Pictured below – The view from the end of Eagles Nest looking out to sea.

Pictured below – Shack Bay looking back towards Eagles Nest.

Pictured below, a series of candid images of ND400 Long Exposure Group members at Powlett River on the way back home from the excursion.

Following are some long exposure images from the picturesque beaches of the Bunurong Marine National Park.
The park is located between Cape Paterson and Inverloch. There’s easy access to the beaches via stairs from the cliff tops. Some might say that the access is only easy in one direction, ….the downward direction. 🙂

Pictured above – Eagles Nest as viewed from the rocky platforms to the west of the formation.

Images from the beautiful Pyramid Rock on the rugged south coast of Phillip Island, Australia.
You can reach the Pyramid Rock car park by driving to the southern end of Pyramid Rock Road which is located just west of the Grand Prix racing circuit.
It’s just a short walk along an elevated wooden path from the car park to the viewing platform. Yes,very civilized. 🙂

Below – A long exposure image of Pyramid Rock. This image is available to buy as a quality print at Zazzle or Redbubble.

Below – Basalt Beach.
A long exposure image of waves crashing on the the dark basalt rocks on the beach near Pyramid Rock.
This image is available to buy as a quality print at Zazzle or Redbubble.

Below – This is my friend “Wally”. He was following me around the cliff tops at the beach.
He was curious yet still cautious enough to keep a safe distance between us.

Some images from the beautiful and rugged ocean coastline at Flinders, Victoria, Australia. To find the entrance to Tea Tree Creek beach set up your GPS to locate the intersection of Keys Road and Boneo Road, Flinders. That will put you right near it.

Below – Dawn at Flinders Back Beach. A long exposure image. Available to purchase as a print at Zazzle or RedBubble.

Below – The Mists of Tea Tree Creek beach. Available to purchase as a quality print here or here.

Below – An image of my friend John Nabben, positioning himself for his next shot amongst the rock pools at Tea Tree Creek beach.

Below are a couple of images from Bridgewater Bay in Blairgowrie, on the Mornington Peninsula. This crepuscular ray sunset appeared for maybe a couple of minutes before disappearing behind thick cloud.

Pictured below – A long exposure image of the locally famous rock formation in Bridgewater Bay.
This image is available as a print at Zazzle and Redbubble.
To visit Bridgewater Bay drive to the car park at the end of St Johns Wood Rd in Blairgowrie. It’s a short walk from the car park to the beach.